Jason Nicol is a graduate of Northern Illinois University where he received a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and is now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist by the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation. Jason is an instructor at Northern Illinois University where he teaches courses on Group Dynamics. He has worked with the adolescent population for his entire career. He was a clinical therapist for Behavior Disordered Adolescents in a residential treatment facility in Rockford prior serving the DeKalb Community. Jason is currently a Clinical Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and serves on the Executive Board for the Illinois Council on Family Relationships.

Fun Fact: Jason is known for masterminding office pranks and never getting caught! Shhhh don’t tell anyone!

Andrea has earned her Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from Argosy University in Chicago and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor through the Illinois Board of Professional Regulation.  She is also a Nationally Certified Counselor through the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Andrea’s personality and passion for the non-profit field has made her a good fit as Associate Director.  She is compassionate towards YSB’s staff and the clients they serve, and very much enjoys promoting YSB’s mission in the community.  Her past experiences working with children and adolescents in a variety of settings has assisted with her ability to relate directly to teens and their families.  She especially enjoys bringing art and activities into the therapeutic process, which helps to foster a collaborative environment when working to resolve sensitive issues. 

Fun Fact:  Andrea loves desserts of all kinds, with chocolate being a tasty favorite.  She enjoys making fun and creative treats for staff, like red velvet cake pops and owl themed cupcakes!  They all enjoy being her test subjects (at least they say so).

 Ahna earned a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northern Illinois University’s Accredited Graduate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy. Ahna is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Ahna is the Clinical Director as well as the coordinator for The Youth and Family Counseling Program and the Girls Empowerment Group.  Ahna’s patience, compassion, and sense of humor help her connect with youth in a positive, supportive way that promotes each youth’s individual strengths. Ahna is particularly interested in dealing with issues related to grief/loss, body image, and helping adolescents form healthy peer and family relationships through increased communication and emotional expression.

Fun Fact: Ahna loves to dance and took her first dance class in college. Ask to see her signature “eggroll” move!

After growing up in a western suburb near Chicago and graduating from NIU with a degree in history, John spent the next twenty-five years in manufacturing. During the last six years of that part of his life, he served on the Board of Directors of the Chicago area die casting association. The next and current phase of his career found him in the non-profit world, first as the business manager for a low vision eye clinic and now as the Office Manager and Chief Financial Officer of YSB. His wife of nearly twenty years works at Kishwaukee College. They have two teenage children adopted from Korea. John has a special appreciation for playing a variety of musical instruments including the mandolin and fretless electric bass. He enjoys ethnic food and is willing to travel as far as Cincinnati to find the best. Hobbies include cooking, reading, billiards and listening to music to name a few.

Fun fact: John is a wealth of information, though not all of it is useful! He is known around the office as Mr. Google because he always seems to have the answer!

Robin has a Master’s Degree in Applied Family and Child Studies with a Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is also a Certified Alcohol and other Drug Counselor. Robin has been with YSB since 1991 and currently coordinates the Early Intervention Program. Her professional interests include working with youth who are healing from sexual abuse, trauma, autism spectrum disorders, and conducting groups in school settings.

Fun Fact: During her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, playing games, going to movies, and traveling. She is a huge Chicago Cubs fan.

Kelley earned her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology specializing in Counseling at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She became passionate about working with adolescents from her volunteer work with a Success Program for high school students where she helped tutor and mentor high risk youth. Kelley is committed to giving back to the community through various volunteering efforts such as CASA and P.A.W.S. (Pets are worth saving).

Fun Fact: Although she lives in and loves the Chicago area, she proudly wears her Green Bay Packer T-Shirts, Hoodies, gloves, hats, socks…but has not yet taken the risk of wearing The Cheese Head.

Erica earned a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northern Illinois University’s Accredited Graduate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy. She grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Central Michigan University, where she first developed an interest in working with families. Erica also has a special interest in working with LGBT and sexual identity issues, in addition to helping adults and adolescents cope with grief and loss.

Fun Fact: Erica loves early mornings. She’s awake every day for coffee and eggs before eight o’clock, even on weekends! She really hates to sleep in and miss those fresh morning hours. She’s bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the crack of dawn, and might even drive you a little nuts if you’re the night owl type!

Krys receive her Masters Degree in Applied Family and Child Studies with a Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy in May of 2011 from Northern Illinois University. She earned a Bachelors of Science in Family and Social Services from Northern Illinois University as well. She completed her undergraduate internship at YSB where she assisted in many of the programs YSB has to offer. Krys coordinated the Alternative to Suspension Program and has worked with court involved youth as well.

Fun Fact: Krys loves the Cubs and hopes to see them win a world series in her life time or at least get past the first round of playoffs. She also loves music of almost any genre, yet for the benefit of mankind, she sings only in the car.

Lauren has a Masters in counseling with a specialization in addictions from Grand Canyon University. She earned her BS in psychology/neuroscience from University of Illinois in 2009.

Fun Fact: Lauren is a Harry Potter fanatic. She’s read the entire series at least a dozen times.

J.J. is earning his Masters degree in Family and Child Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy at Northern Illinois University.  He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Family Social Services from Northern Illinois University as well.  His professional interests include the effects disability has on the family, grief/loss, and sibling relationships.

Fun Fact: J.J. loves the Chicago Blackhawks and was so excited when they won the Stanley Cup in 2010 that he could not hold a conversation for 2 hours after they won.

Eric is a student at Northern Illinois University’s accredited Graduate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is an intern at YSB and the youth director at The Salvation Army that maintains positive connections with the local community. Eric enjoys bringing youth together for the common purpose of recognizing their individual strengths as well as others. Discussing morals and good decisions is of particular interest to Eric.

Fun Fact: Eric plays bass guitar, acoustic guitar, sings karaoke, and is a sap for almost any love ballad.

Anna is a senior at Northern Illinois University and will be graduating in May with her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health Promotion.  Anna began as an undergraduate intern and now works part-time at YSB with the Alternative to Suspension Program.  Her passion for helping others and working with youth developed early and she worked as a coach, camp counselor, and tutor throughout high school and college.  After graduation Anna hopes to work in a setting that allows her to educate youth about healthy choices and lifestyles.

Fun Fact: Anna loves t-shirts!!  She began collecting them when she was 14 and hasn’t stopped since.  She hopes to some day start an organization that donates t-shirts for disaster relife and homeless youth.  She has over 200 and doesn’t want to stop there!.